WHAT DIFFERENCE DO MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES MAKE? …

1 9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- M&GSQ Conference-Museum- M&GSQ Conference-Gold Coast QueenslandGold Coast Queensland11 what DIFFERENCE DOWHAT DIFFERENCE DOMUSEUMS AND GALLERIESMUSEUMS AND GALLERIESMAKE? MAKE? a typology of valuea typology of value3C3C s Contemporary Collectings Contemporary Collectingand Communicationand Communication1515thth September 2007 September 2007M&GSQ ConferenceM&GSQ Conference9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland22 Some backgroundSome backgroundThe settingThe setting Modernising governmentModernising government Social change and newSocial change and newsocial wealth indicatorssocial wealth indicators Results basedResults basedaccountability, evidenceaccountability.

2 Evidencebased policy and impactbased policy and impactevaluationevaluation Worth based on theWorth based on theachievement of economicachievement of economicand social policyand social policy Utilitarian paradigmUtilitarian paradigmThe challengesThe challenges ReductionistReductionist conomics as an conomics as aninvestment in ainvestment in asustainable futuresustainable future Role of museumsRole of MUSEUMS Transforming powerTransforming power Quantitative indicators,Quantitative indicators,performance andperformance andobjectives based modelsobjectives based modelsof assessmentof assessment Fundamental valuesFundamental values9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland33 what values?

3 what values? InstrumentalInstrumental IntrinsicIntrinsic Use and non-useUse and non-use InstitutionalInstitutional9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland44 StudyStudy Two cohortsTwo cohorts- professional cohort (federal, state and local- professional cohort (federal, state and localand specialist MUSEUMS + associates)and specialist MUSEUMS + associates) Public (visitors and non-visitors, urban andPublic (visitors and non-visitors, urban andregional centres, four lifestyle groups)regional centres, four lifestyle groups) QuestionsQuestions- impacts and contributions of MUSEUMS - impacts and contributions of MUSEUMS - personal and community significance- personal and community significance- preceived loss- preceived loss9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland55 Use valueUse value DirectDirect IndirectIndirect Non-useNon-use- existence- existence- option- option - bequest - bequest9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland66In their own wordsIn their own Existence

4 ValueExistence valueI rarely visit MUSEUMS , but I recognize their importance as a visualI rarely visit MUSEUMS , but I recognize their importance as a visualrecord of the pastrecord of the past (Public cohort: male, visitor, 55-70, urban resident) (Public cohort: male, visitor, 55-70, urban resident) Option valueOption valueEven though I do not visit often, I would still feel the loss personally ifEven though I do not visit often, I would still feel the loss personally ifmuseums no longer existed. I anticipate that in retirement I may havemuseums no longer existed. I anticipate that in retirement I may havethe time and be more inclined to visitthe time and be more inclined to visit (Public cohort: male, visitor, 55- (Public cohort: male, visitor, 55-70, urban resident).)

5 70, urban resident). Bequest valueBequest valueI don't think I would lose much sleep if MUSEUMS ceased to exist;I don't think I would lose much sleep if MUSEUMS ceased to exist;However, it would be sad for future generations not to have theHowever, it would be sad for future generations not to have theopportunity to see our history other than in photos, books etcopportunity to see our history other than in photos, books etc. (Public. (Publiccohort: male, non-visitor, parent, urban resident)cohort: male, non-visitor, parent, urban resident)9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland77 Institutional valueInstitutional value CitizenshipCitizenship- - public access to collections, public access to collections, fostering democracyfostering democracy, , modeling civil modeling civil behaviourbehaviour Interpretation of informationInterpretation of information- - trusted expertise, trusted expertise, honest/ balanced presentationhonest/ balanced presentation, , meaningmeaning Public confidencePublic confidence-Maintaining high standards, stability and permanence-Maintaining high standards.

6 Stability and permanence Building relationshipsBuilding relationships--Local, national and internationalLocal, national and international9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland88In their own wordsIn their own words [if we didn[if we didn t have MUSEUMS ] Exhibits would bet have MUSEUMS ] Exhibits would belost to private collections, beyond the sight of thelost to private collections, beyond the sight of themajority of people (majority of people (Public cohortPublic cohort male, visitor,male, visitor,35-50, urban resident35-50, urban resident)) [ MUSEUMS ] enable ordinary people to see[ MUSEUMS ] enable ordinary people to seeartifacts they might never have the opportunity toartifacts they might never have the opportunity toexperienceexperience (Public cohort: female, non-visitor, (Public cohort: female, non-visitor,35-70, urban resident)35-70, urban resident)9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland99 Intrinsic value: IndividualsIntrinsic value.

7 Individuals CognitiveCognitive- - perspective, reflection, enrichment, discovery, enlightenment, inspirationperspective, reflection, enrichment, discovery, enlightenment, inspiration EmpatheticEmpathetic- - awareness, insightawareness, insight Well beingWell being- - rrefreshmentefreshment, sensitivities and values, excitement and awe, affirmation, joy, sensitivities and values, excitement and awe, affirmation, joy9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland1010In their own wordsIn their own words [[ MUSEUMS ] give a perspective of how insignificant theMuseums] give a perspective of how insignificant thehuman race really is.

8 Sometimes that is really good whenhuman race really is. Sometimes that is really good whenyou feel like things happening in your life are overwhelmingyou feel like things happening in your life are overwhelming(Public cohort: female, visitor, parent, urban resident)(Public cohort: female, visitor, parent, urban resident) A quite place to go and have a look and browse; A tranquilA quite place to go and have a look and browse; A tranquilplace to wander when quiet time is neededplace to wander when quiet time is needed (Public cohort: (Public cohort:female, visitor, 18-24 years, urban resident)female, visitor, 18-24 years, urban resident) [ MUSEUMS offer] possibilities to look at both the[ MUSEUMS offer] possibilities to look at both thefamiliar and the unexpected.

9 New discoveriesfamiliar and the unexpected. New discoveriesamong the old friends at every visit (Public cohort:among the old friends at every visit (Public cohort:female, visitor, 55-70 years, urban resident)female, visitor, 55-70 years, urban resident) MUSEUMS can be places of excitement and awe. They canMuseums can be places of excitement and awe. They canprovide windows to art, history and worlds that individualsprovide windows to art, history and worlds that individualshave no other way of experiencinghave no other way of experiencing (Public cohort: female, (Public cohort: female,non-visitor, parent, regional resident)non-visitor, parent, regional resident)9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland1111 Intrinsic value: CommunitiesIntrinsic value.

10 Communities Historical valueHistorical value- - tthe communal archive, experience of the past, the lessons of history, belonging, che communal archive, experience of the past, the lessons of history, belonging, culturalulturaltransmission, ctransmission, culturalultural continuity continuity Social valueSocial value- - ccivicivic places and spaces. sense of place, community identity places and spaces. sense of place, community identity Symbolic valueSymbolic value- - Commemorative eventsCommemorative events Spiritual valueSpiritual value- - WWonderonder and awe, meaning and awe, meaning9/20/079/20/07 Carol Scott-PowerhouseCarol Scott-PowerhouseMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldMuseum- MGQ Conference- GoldCoast QueenslandCoast Queensland1212 Intrinsic value: EconomyIntrinsic value.